Rapid prototyping aids humanitarian surgery

Tom Shelley reports on the use of technology to alleviate some of the consequences of war A first patient has just successfully undergone major reconstructive surgery in Iraq, assisted by rapid prototype models provided by a new humanitarian project. Less than a month after key players in the Rapid Prototyping industry founded the "RP4 Baghdad" project, a 42 year old has been able to benefit from it. This man, who was shot several times in the jaw and neck region in an ambush on the road to Jordan, was CT scanned, producing data which was shipped by courier to a European medical model manufacturing site on May 30th. It was there processed using Materialise 'Mimics' software and the medical model was built on the evening of May 31st. The model was subsequently shipped to Baghdad by DHL on June 1st, where it arrived on June 3rd. The doctors were then able to practice on the model and step with confidence through the complex surgery. The operation was successfully undertaken on Sunday June 5th by Dr Ammar al-Jawadi (maxillo-facial surgeon) and Dr Hashim A. Samir (diagnostic radiology). The doctors are said to be enthusiastic about the possibilities these models offer them and another patient is already being prepared for scanning at time of writing. The four sponsors, Materialise, Stratasys, Z Corporation and 3D Systems have given their commitment to support the centre with free software for the production of models, free models, and necessary working capital. RP4Baghdad